Classifications of Sweet Peas | Blog Posts | Forum

Sweet peas have taken a number of exciting evolutionary steps, with a little help from breeders trying to introduce favourable qualities to better suite a particular climate, or to enhance a desirable feature or characteristic. The following terms are commonly used to represent some of the major groupings:

Grandiflora

The Grandiflora group are my personal favourites, and represent the first major improvements in sweet peas. Henry Eckford, C. C. Morse, W. A. Burpee and D. M. Ferry were early pioneers, with hundreds of varieties introduced between them – many of which are still available today!

Notable introductions include: America (1896, Morse), Blanche Ferry (1889, Ferry), Prima Donna (1896, Eckford) and Janet Scott (Morse/Burpee, 1903).

The name "Grandiflora" suggests large flowers. Interestingly, compared to modern sweet pea varieties the flowers are small – however, at the time of their introduction, the blooms were a great improvement over what had gone before.

Old Fashioned

The term "Old Fashioned" sweet peas has come to mean a super-set encompassing all the Grandifloras, and the earlier examples, such as Cupani and Painted Lady. I have singled these two out because their history is interesting, and not altogether conclusive.

Cupani bears the name of the monk who sent a sample of seeds collected in Sicily to schoolmaster Dr Robert Uvedale in Enfield, Middlesex in 1699. Conventional thinking has this as the first example of Lathyrus odoratus recorded. It is also widely accepted that Painted Lady (amongst others) resulted as a "sport" (a natural mutation) from the original maroon and purple coloured Cupani. However, E. R. Janes' [ref] book produces some interesting, if not circumstantial, evidence that this may not be the case, and that Painted Lady may in fact have originated in Ceylon (Lathyrus zeylanicus)

The true origins of those early examples seems to be confined to the mists of time, nevertheless, what is not contested is that the varieties we know today are decended from the seeds sent by Cupani, however they got to Sicily.

Spencer

Spencer sweet peas need little introduction, as they are by far the most popular and widespread class of sweet peas today. Silas Cole, head gardener for Earl Spencer, found a large "beflounced and befrilled" sweet pea growing amongst a batch of Prima Donna . A deep rose-pink that was to become Countess Spencer. At around the same time W. J. Unwin and Eckford found similar mutations. Unwin persevered and developed the "Unwins sweet pea", but later abandoned them in favour of the superior Spencers. Eckford's variety was never commercially developed.

Cuthbertson

Cuthbertsons were raised in America by Frank Cuthbertson when he emigrated to California after working for Dobbies of Edinburgh. These types are more able to stand the strong summer sunshine in America, and are more popular there than in Britain. They are, however, grown in the UK under glass for the cut flower markets. In Britain Cuthbertsons tend only to be available as a mix, and the colour range is limited.

Dwarf

Originally appearing as rogues, these short plants achieve little more than 12" (30cm) in height. They are becoming more popular as city living forces people to be more imaginative and creative with their gardening endeavours. They are ideal on patios and hanging baskets, and can make attractive ground cover. They have little merit in terms of cut flowers owing to the shortness of their stems, and not all are well scented. Popular series include Cupids, Patio, Sweetie, Little Sweetheart, Fantasia, Pinnocchio and latterly Cherub. Generally available as mixes, however Cupids are occasionally offered as individual colours.

Intermediate

Intermediates were developed by crossing Dwarf varieties with Spencers, unsurprisingly. Growing to an average of 3' (90cm) the group is comprised of Knee High, Jet Set, Snoopea and Supersnoop.

Winter Flowering

Bred to flower early these types require less daylight to bloom. Winter Elegance and Solstice are among the best series.

Royals

Like Cuthbertsons, but better in virtually every regard.

[bibtex file=bibliography.bib key=janes1953]

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